When a food pusher tries to get you to eat something, THE worst possible response you can give is this:

“I can’t eat that.”

When you tell someone you “can’t” eat something, most people will react in one of two ways.

1) They’ll think you’re being down on yourself, or depriving yourself, and try to convince you you CAN eat that, because “you’re awesome,” OR…

2) They’ll use your “I can’t” statement to begin an argument about why you can – and should – eat the thing you said you “can’t” eat.

The response you always wanna give instead of “I can’t eat that” is: “No thanks, I don’t want that.”

Now if you’re thinking, “But Cristy, I usually DO want it! Saying I don’t feels like lying!” then here’s some food for thought (no pun intended).

First of all, saying “I can’t eat that” is the lie…because yes, you CAN eat that. You can go stuff your face with cow manure if you want to!

When you don’t eat something, what you’re actually doing is choosing NOT to eat “that,” because you’re eating for a goal, and eating whatever “that” is works against your goal.

Second, it’s true that there’s a part of you that wants “that” food, but there’s also a part of you that doesn’t.

It’s the part of you that wants to get and keep this weight off.

It’s the part of you that wants to feel better, be happy with how you look, sit on the floor with your grandkids, have more options when you clothes shop, and so on.

When you answer, “No thanks, I don’t want that,” you’re allowing the part of you that truly doesn’t want “that” food to step in and answer. Make sense?

Most important of all, when you tell someone you don’t want something, they’re SO much less likely to take your answer as an invitation to argue.

“I can’t” sounds weak and victim-y.

“I don’t want that” sounds powerful and certain.

People, in general, aren’t gonna listen to weak and victim-y, but they will listen to powerful and certain.

A lot of staying on track in social situations comes down to what’s going on between your ears, as well as what’s coming out of your mouth.

Remember: No one but YOU gets the final say in what you choose to eat.

They may have an opinion (we all do), but they don’t get a VOTE.

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